Message Notes

SSS 4 17 September 2023
Book 3
Psalms 73-89

Text: Psalm 88

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.

2 Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave.

4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man who has no strength,

5]Adrift among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And who are cut off from Your hand.

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the depths.

7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves.

8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them;
I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

9 My eye wastes away because of affliction.
LORD, I have called daily upon You;
I have stretched out my hands to You.

10 Will You work wonders for the dead?
Shall the dead arise and praise You?

11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?
12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;
I suffer Your terrors;
I am distraught.

16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;
Your terrors have cut me off.

17 They came around me all day long like water;
They engulfed me altogether.

18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me,
And my acquaintances into darkness.

Psalm 88:1-18

SERIES OF “A CONTEMPLATION” PSALMS

1. Psalm 32 David

2. Psalm 42 Sons of Korah

3. Psalm 44 Sons of Korah

4. Psalm 45 Sons of Korah

5. Psalm 52 David

6. Psalm 53 David

7. Psalm 54 David

8. Psalm 55 David

9. Psalm 74 Asaph

10. Psalm 78 Asaph
11. Psalm 88 Heman the Ezrahite

12. Psalm 89 Ethan the Ezrahite

13. Psalm 142 David

The Author of Psalm 88: Heman the Ezrahite

1. A Kohathite, one of the sons of Korah 1 Chronicles 6:33

2. A singer 1 Chronicles 6:33

3. Serving in the Temple, under the King 1 Chronicles 25:6

ESSENCE OF PSALM 88

1. One of the saddest Psalms

2. An outpouring of a sorrowful heart in prayer

PRAYING TO THE LORD

1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.

2 Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry.

Psalm 88:1-2

1. Crying out to “God of my salvation”

2. Plea for the prayer to be heard

THE DREAD OF DEATH

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave.

4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man who has no strength,

5 Adrift among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And who are cut off from Your hand.

Psalm 88:3-5

1. Full of troubles

2. Life draws near to the grave (the pit)

a) No strength

b) Adrift among the dead

c) Remembered no more

d) Cut off from Your hand

DANGER OF BLAMING THE LORD

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the depths.

7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves.

8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them;
I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

Psalm 88:6-8

1. At wit’s end

a) The lowest pit

b) In darkness

c) In the depths

2. God’s wrath

a) It is heavy

b) Afflicted by “waves”

3. Loss of friends

a) Acquaintances are far away

b) An abomination

c) Shut up and can’t get out

THOUGHTS ABOUT DEATH

9 My eye wastes away because of affliction.
LORD, I have called daily upon You;
I have stretched out my hands to You.

10 Will You work wonders for the dead?
Shall the dead arise and praise You?

11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Psalm 88:9-12

1. Prayers offered amidst affliction

a) Calling upon God daily

b) Hands stretched out

2. Among the dead

a) Nothing for the dead

b) No praise

c) No declarations of God’s lovingkindness/ faithfulness in the grave

d) No wonders of God made known

e) The righteousness of God not known “in the land of forgetfulness”

ALMOST IN TOTAL DESPAIR

13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;
I suffer Your terrors;
I am distraught.

16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;
Your terrors have cut me off.

17 They came around me all day long like water;
They engulfed me altogether.

18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me,
And my acquaintances into darkness.

Psalm 88:13-18

1. Crying out to God in the morning Psalm 88:13

2. Raising questions to God

a) LORD, why do You cast off my soul?

b) Why do You hide Your face from me? Psalm 88:14

3. Remembering years of affliction

a) Afflicted from youth

b) Terror

c) Distraught

d) Fierce wrath of God

e) Engulfed

f) Feeling isolation

i) No loved on

ii) No friend

iii) No acquaintance

Psalm 88 ended on this terribly dismal note!

1. No relief

2. No answer

3. No hope